Smart Home Design: How to Build Cost-Effective Homes Without Sacrificing Style

Episode 66: In this episode, you’ll get a detailed look into what "affordable housing" really means when it comes to designing and building a panelized prefab home. Steve Tuma breaks down how design simplicity, careful material choices, and smart structural planning directly impact a home's affordability. Whether you're building your personal dream home, a small duplex for rental income, or a senior co-living space, you'll discover how planning, budgeting, and understanding your "why" can make the process more meaningful and cost effective. The conversation also dives into multi-family developments, designing for Airbnb and rental use, international building challenges, and the emotional motivations behind why people take on these projects. This episode balances practicality with heartwarming stories of real families — showing that building a home isn’t just about materials and money, but about creating something truly lasting.